In brief

• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry rejected a proposal by French far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon that Donbas residents decide on borders.
• The ministry cited the 1991 referendum, in which over 90% backed independence, including 83% in Donbas.
• French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Mélenchon was acting as a Kremlin spokesman, which Mélenchon denied.

Kyiv responds to the French candidate

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi said on X that Ukraine should not be asked to accept the results of Russian-organised "referendums" in Donbas and Crimea. He argued that votes held under occupation are a tool of annexation rather than an expression of the will of the people (Кандидат в президенти Франції заговорив про зміну кордонів України: в МЗС різко відповіли – UNIAN) (МЗС України відреагувало на ідею кандидата у президенти Франції питати населення про території – Європейська правда) («Инструмент аннексии». Спикер МИД Тихий прокомментировал неоднозначное заявление Меланшона о «референдуме» на Донбассе – NV).

The 1991 vote

Tykhyi pointed to the all-Ukrainian referendum of 1991, when more than 90% of voters backed independence within Ukraine's current internationally recognised borders. He said a majority voted in favour in every region, including Donbas, where 83% of participants approved the decision.

What Mélenchon said

At a campaign rally on Saturday, Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise's successor movement Unbowed France, said no one could accept peace in Ukraine involving territorial concessions without asking the people living there which side of the border they want to be on. He said the population itself should decide (Кандидат в президенты Франции Меланшон сделал скандальное заявление по Донбассу. Глава МИД Барро назвал его «спикером Кремля» – NV) (Лідера французьких ультралівих розкритикували за висловлювання щодо України – Українська правда).

Criticism in France

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Mélenchon had simply acted as a spokesman for the Kremlin, and that this disqualified him from the office he seeks. Mélenchon rejected the criticism on X, accusing Barrot of attributing to him the government's own position on giving up Donbas, and pointing to a December 2025 proposal on "territorial exchanges". Raphaël Glucksmann, another leftist rival, also accused him of spreading propaganda.

Why it matters

Polls suggest Mélenchon has a chance of reaching the second round of the presidential election next year, which makes his stance on Ukraine a significant issue in the French campaign.